NBA D-League 101

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league. Featuring 17 teams with direct affiliations to NBA franchises, the NBA D-League is a proven developer of talent: More than a quarter of the player of the NBA boasts NBA D-League experience, and the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front-office staff for the NBA and its teams. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA.

More than 120 players with NBA D-League experience have appeared on NBA rosters throughout the 2013-14 season. With numbers like that, there's no denying that the NBA D-League is the way for up-and-coming basketball prospects to find their way to an NBA roster. And, not only did almost 30% of all NBA players boast NBA D-League experience at the end of last season, but all 30 teams featured players who cut their teeth in the NBA D-League. Top NBA talent knows that if they're on the bubble of an NBA roster, the NBA D-League is the place to be to make the jump. Think you have what it takes? Start your journey here.

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...Referees

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Every referee hired by the NBA since 2002 has started their career in the NBA D-League. If you want to officiate the best basketball in the world, you have to start in the NBA Development League. The NBA D-League recruits referees every off-season - if you want the whistle, take the first step here.

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...Coaches

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Almost 40 coaches have started their career in the NBA D-League and gone on to warm NBA benches and call plays for the best in the game. With NBA scouts at virtually every NBA D-League game, there's no better way to have your X and O prowess discovered than on an NBA D-League sidelines.

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...Executives

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Working in an NBA front office is a dream job for hoops junkies - but it's a reality that begins, in large part, in the NBA D-League. More than 100 front office folks got their start in the NBA D-League, including New Orleans Hornets General Manager Dell Demps, just to name one. Want the corner office? See who's hiring here.